Early exposure to pet dogs may lower the risk of developing atopic eczema -- a condition characterised by dry, itchy, and inflamed skin -- among children who are genetically prone to the condition.

Eczema is an itchy skin disorder caused by a combination of genetic and environmental effects, but little is known about how the two interact.

The findings provide new insights into what could cause eczema in children and how environmental factors may influence genetic risk, experts say.